113838020521604746

Part of my transformation has included meditation. Just sitting quietly, focusing on breathing. I always thought I could never do this. I usually have things pop up that I need to write down before they return to the tornado that is my mind. My mind goes back to racing. So I thought it was pretty serendipitous that on the flight back from the retreat I picked up a random magazine, flipped to a random page and read an article about meditation. I could really relate to the author. She talked about how her mind wandered. How she was send to this meditation class and was very skeptical. She peeked during the exercises (hee). But then she talked about it after the class with the rest of the students and they said the same thing: they had a hard time concentrating. So she felt less alone and decided to continue to meditate at home.

At home, the author would put the timer on for 15 minutes and sit in a comfortable position. She tried to focus on her breathing. Her mind would still wander, but she would catch it and let it go, again focusing on her breathing. And it got better over time. She wrote that this slowed her down and made her less reactionary in her life.

This sounded like something I needed and could do, so I have been meditating at home. Catching myself go and then bringing myself back. It's an exercise in starting over. In letting it go, not being mad at yourself and giving yourself another chance. Over and over again. I like that. I could use a second chance or two...

So, imagine my surprise when Colin and I were asked to do a story on meditation for Nuvo last week. What are the chances? (I think someone is trying to tell me to keep going.) So we went to a meditation studio and sat in on one of the sessions. We participated and asked a few questions. Later I had to do an illustration that summed it up quickly. A quick read that talked about meditating. So, that's where the illo above comes from. I wanted to convey that all these things pop up in your head, but occasionally you have a moment of peace. And then it's gone and you start over.